Improvement in hemp-harvesters



'. e. come.

Hemp Harvester.

Patented Oct. 15. 1850.

N. PETERS, PhomLxxhoguphar. wnshingmn. u. C

UNITED STATES' PATENT UEEICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HENIP-HARVESTERS.

Specicatiou forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,7l9, dated October l5, 1850.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BAILY CoATEs, of Big Lick, in the county ot'l Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hemp and Grain Cutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the drawings, with -my improvements attached, reference being` had to the annexed drawings, makingapa-rt of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view; Fig. 2, the lower half of an iron box; Fig. 3,therightend ot' the shaft N broken oli' to disclose the thread of the screw.

Fig. 1: AAis a frame seven i'eet long,n1ore or less, .four wide, more or less, and three high, more or less, composed of dry oak or ash. The pieces should be about four inches square, having grooves cut at d d d d d d d d. A seat is placed front, on top, for the driver, to enable him to drive and attend the lever U.

B B is a vertical sliding frame,phaving tive vertical posts, four working in the above-mentioned grooves and the fit'th on the left hand and back of B B, with the top mortised in the back transverse piece at the upper part ofthe frame, and the lower part entering a mortise in the back long transverse piece. The top has four pieces, four inches square, in which the vertical posts are secured by tenons. The

posts have bolt-holes at the distance ot three inches apart, more or less. Thelower part of B B consists ot' two long transverse pieces eleven feet in length, more or less, united by four pieces, one right and left and two nearly in the center of their entire lengths. The front transverse piece is about three inches deep-and ve (more or less) wide. The back piece is four inches square. The width ofthe sliding frame should be two feet both at top and bottom, more or less. The pieces of this frame, as well as those of AA, are put together by mortises and tenons and then pinned by wooden or iron pins, which is optional.

C is an iron axle-tree six feet long, more or less, 'and two inches in diameter, having two cranks, one on the right and one on the lett, the rst four, second thirteen, inches from the frame A A on the inside. Each crank is about four inches long, one wide inside, at top, and spreadingthe reverse part two inches, and made perfectly smooth and at right angle S with each other. The part ofthe crank marked H inches in diameter, and having two cranks placed directly opposite to' the two on C, otA the same form and size.

h h are two iron boxes for the axis D to work in. Thereis also another on the right back vertical post of B Bin aline with the above. (Not seen.) Each box is about six inches long, three wide, and secured to the vertical posts by screw-bolts. The center is thick and sloping toward each end,and containing circular holes for the axis D, two inches in diameter.

E E are two connecting-rods, composed ot' iron. They work on the right and left inside of A A and unite thel cranks. Each rod is one inch wide and circular at each end, with circular holes one inch and a halt' in diameter, to suit H. rlhe Acircular' part at each end should be three inches in diameter. The body of each E E is one inch wide and two or more thick, andare so constructed as to lengthen or shorten, as is desired. Both sliding bolts and a nut-screw I intend to use. The nut-screw will answer; but letting one half ot" each arm e or rod slide in grooves on the other halt' will no doubt be preferable.

e' e are two spoke or cast-iron wheels, three feet in diameter and six inches wide at the tire,

any size hub willanswer; but should cast-iron be used for the wheels, the center should be about four inches thick, the rest about an inch, and six broad at the tire, with circular holes to t on the end ofthe axletree front. The front axle-tree is of wood, and six teet long, more or less.

e e are two cast-iron wheels, three feetin di. aineter, six inches wide at tire, and rongh pointed, like the others. The cast hub s hould be fourinches thick and the body of the wheels two inches or more, to give weight tothe back part and overbalance the frame B B, o-r give the niost weight in the frame A A.

F is a cast-iron cog-wheel, two feet in dianfeter, more or less, three inches thick at center, with a square hole forits axis, and two inches thick at the edge. This wheel has one hundred teeth, more or less, and very strong. It works on the axis D, and is seen between the two posts on the left and back of the sliding frame B B.

Gis a small cast-ironcog-wheel, (with twenty teeth,) three inches thick at center and two at the edge, with teeth the same size as those of the cog-wheel G.

H is the axis ofthe cog-wheel G. It is one inch and a half in diameter, andhas two boxes to work in. One box is seen at u. The other is not seen, but is on the fifth vertical post, the second on the lei't and back of B B. The left end of H is square for about three inches from lthe visible box u toward the left. A crank (with the part ttingon the square left end ot' H rounding and. growing smaller to its lower part, with a bend at right angles,) is put on. rlhe crank is pinned at the top part to the square end of H. The left end ot the lower part has a shoulder or a pin to keep the rod G on securely. On each side ot' the box u are two shoulders to keep the small cog-wheel G in its proper situation. The length of H is fifteen inches, more or less. rEhe crank should be about one foot long, more or less.

l is a connecting-rod, about twelve inches long, more or less, and circular at both ends, with holes one inch and a quarter, or thereabout, in diameter. The ends are one inch wide and the circular part three inches in diameter, more or less. The body should be one inch wide and one and a haltl deep or thick.

J is an iron lever, about three feet long, rounding at top, with double eyes for the front end ot'I to work in, growing` gradually larger toward the bottoni, where are also double eyes. lt is about one inch wide iu the clear between each set of double eyes at each end. The body attop is about one inch thick and two (more or less) wide. The bottom ot' the body near the lower double eyes is three inches wide and one thick, more or less. At onethird ot' the length from the lower double eye is a circular hole to put a bolt through to secure it to l. This lever can be straight or curved backward.

K is an upright piece of iron having a body and two legs, with a circular hole at top of the body tojcontine J to, with a round bolt, so that it can turn on it. The body is four inches long, two thick, and three wide. Thelegs are about twelve inches long, and growing larger from the body down toward theirlower-parts, which should be securely eonined in the crosspieee of wood on which it is seen in the drawings.

L is an iron connecting-rod of the same forni as I, but a little shorter, and at b two inches wide on each division, to attach the hinge b to.

M is a short lever, about one foot high, rounding at top, with an eye, and one inch thick. rlhe body grows larger to the lower part, is the same thickness, but halt' as wide again. The lower part is circular, and has a square hole (one inch and a halt' long on a side) to fit on the square part of' N on the right.

N is a rock-shaft with the choppers attached. The left end is oneand a half inch in diameter, more or less, and tive long, more or less, and smooth. The right end is six inches long and one and a halt' inch in diameter, more or less. rlhe extreme end for about one and a half inch is square to tit M on. At the left ot' the square commences the thread ot' a screw, which is run around enough to cause the whole of N to move two inches (more or less) toward the right when the lever M is drawn back and downward. The length ot'N from M to the extreme left is tive feet, more or less. The choppers, when down, should act against the right and top part ot' each tooth in precisely the same manner as a' pair of scissorsthat is, cut the whole length ot the edges, which is three inches, more or less. The front points of the choppers are turned a little toward the right, and this turned partis rounding at point and edge, so as not to cut., but prevent the hemp, Sec., from getting to the right ot' each ot' them while'down. From the point seen at the lower and back part of' eachchopper they take a short vertical rise and terminate in a gentle curve. The opposite part has a like bend. The choppers are about two inches wide at top, where united to the part east on N and belonging to it, and thick, so as to get as much weight as possible, then curved, so as to throw the edges against the edges ot' the teeth. The edges of the choppers are like a ehisel'from the lower part upward to the right for one inch. The partl around the shalt is in the form of a cylinder. It then grows thinner to the intersection of the choppers, where it is about two inches, more or less. The parts at each end arein the form ofshoulders,one inch in thickness from the round parts working in the boxes Q Q, and are to prevent the edges ofthe choppers from going too far to the left when they descend and to the right while rising-about nineteen choppers.

P are cast-iron teeth, with smooth sharp edges at top on the right, and sides oblique right and lef't, then coming to a point front, two-thirds ot' their distance from t. Their length is about nine inches, with a space between eaeh tooth ot' one inch. Their width is two inches, more or less; depth twoY for one inch from t, as shown at 4,-, to where they commence striking otf to a point., about live inches, one inch wide, more or less. From the front of l, on P, there is a 'small slope of 011e inch in every space between the teeth, as is shown by the first space in the drawing'. The object ot' this slope is to keep the hemp,'&e., from getting closer than two inches to t, that when the edges ot the choppers cut down they may not strike but about half an inch below the right upper edge ot' the teeth, and consequently eut all between the teeth and pre Vent halt' an inch of the edge toward the back of the choppers from cutting. It this were not the case, but the slope taken away, and the back part ot' the space vertical, the hemp might not all get eut, especially the stalk jammed in the corner. With the slope, the hemp in the back part of the spaces is against the front of the slope at the lower part ofthe teeth, and standing out one inch from the back of the slope, and allowing the back point of' the edge at Q to go a halt' inch below the top ot' tooth, as described. The part t is cast to the teeth; should be about tive feet long, hollow inside its whole length, ve inches by three, to lit the front lower piece ot' B B,

having a shoulder one inch in height from the top of theteeth andthe same below the teeth. This is put ou the front long transverse piece ot' B B previous to the extreme lett piece heilig united to the long transverse pieces by tenons and mortises and pinnedabout nineteen teeth, more or less.

Q Q are two iron boxes, eight inches in length, four wide, with the t'ront part ot' each about four inches in height and the back part two inches. The front part ot' the left has a circular hole for the let't end of N to work in. The right one 'nas a female thread cut in the bottom and sides to suit the male thread on the right end ot' N, and ot such a length as to throw the part N two inches toward the right and left. Those boxes are secured to the lower part of B B front by strong screw and nut bolts-two in each. A hole is seen in the lett box nearlts front. rlhis is to pour oil in. The right box has a similar opening to pour oil in. The oil runs down'around the screw and rests in the lower part ot' the female screw, which is ent deeper than the male and retains the oil.

It R are two long arms, curved toward their back part, ot' iron, one inch, more or less, in diameter and about seven feet long, secured at their front ends to S, while the others slide in the long slide-eyes at Z Z.

Sis an iron lever or arm, with au eye front and back. The fore part is one inch wide, the back part is rounding and three inches wide at the eye for a t'ew inches, then sloping toward the t'ront. It should be one inch thick at the back part and threequarters, more or less, front.

T is an iron connecting-rod, about four feet long, more or less, half an inch wide, one deep, and small boltholes at the front part. Each extreme end has a small hook. This is to be lengthened when the frame B B is lowered.

U is a wooden lever, vabout three feet long, and strong, with its t'ulcrum one foot from the lower end. An iron bolt, with a screw-nut at end, holds it ou the front and top ot' A A and permits it'to move freely.

V is a spiral spring ot' iron, about one foot in length. It draws forward the lever.

\V is an iron box for the right side of the axle-tree C to work in. There is anotherjust like it on the left ot' the lower part of A A, for the left end of C to work in. The axle-tree is kept inthe proper places in the boxes by shoulders ou U.

XX are two light iron frame sides, live feet wide at the top and one at their lower part, having two long eyes, Z Z, on their lower and back parts. The main rods rise from c c on the left part of sliding frame B B, run with a gradual ascent to four feet in height, more or less, then run slanting a little for about seven feet back, turn round and slanting toward the right and left for three feet, leaving the lower and back parts one foot from the ground, from which they run slightly slanting toward the two long` pieces ot' B B, which they enter, and are secured by pins or bolts. Short and small pieces connect the upper and lower main pieces at equal distances apart.

Y is a smooth floor of metal or wood, coming even with the top ofthe long pieces ot' the frame B B.

Z Z are two slide eyes, one'foot long, half inch thick, secured to bottom ot' each frame and having a space of oneinch and a halt' for the rods R lt.

c care two flat pieces of iron, six inches long, four wide, and one thick, to which the front ends ot' w :v are secured. The pieces c c are secured to the frame B B by bolts ruiming through the wood.

a a a a a a a a are bolt-holes, one inch indiameter, in the t'our vertical posts.

dd d d d d d d are grooves, one inch deep, four and a quarter long, in the main pieces ol' the frame A A.

bis an iron hinge on the right side ofL, and when the choppers move laterally and upward it opens so as to lengthen the rod L two or more inches. Itis three inches` long toward the right ot' L, and secured to both divisions ot'L by screws. y

u is an iron box on the back and lett post ot the frame B B. There is another on the next post to it toward the right. They are about eight inches in length, thick at center, and sloping toward each end. Those are for the axis Il to work in.

o o o 0 o o o 0 are bolts with keys abouteight inches long and one in diameter. Each has a large head ou the outside of A A and holes for keys inside. Cords prevent the bolts from losing.

p is a strong wooden or iron lever, seven feet long, with a small chain front to tasten to the staple on top the frame B B. The back end has a strongchain to hook on the frame A when raising or lowering the frame B B.

q is an angular supporter, secured at bottom to the top ot' the frame A, and a bolt-hole at top to fasten the leverp to by a bolt.

Fig. 2 85 & is an enlarged view otthe lower halt'of the right box Q, with the female screwthread or depression in it.

Fig. 3: 8v is the right end of the part N broken ott' to show the male thread.

Having described the drawings and referred to the parts by letters, I shall proceed to state the particular nature of my invent-ion. This consists in placing choppers with their edges so as to strike obliquely on a rock-shaft, N, that by a lateral and semi-rotary motion combined they may cut an oblique stroke against the top and right edges ofthe teeth P. In obtaining this motion I employ a male and t'emale screw, as bet'ore described 5 also, in placing a light frame, x x, with a spring bottom, R R, to catch the hemp when it falls back. This frame can be made with the rods l R closer to the back long transverse piece of frame B B, and placing the long pieces closer together, it would then catch rye, wheat, 85o.

Mode of operation of the machina-The chop-V4 pers and lett part ot' B B can be constructed to go on the right side of the frame A A, if necessary. All the motive power is derived from the hind wheels. 'lhehorses are attached to the tongue on front ot' A A, and walk a t'oot or so from the side ot' the hemp, Sac. The hind wheels move the rods E E. They move D and F, which latter sets G in motion and works the. crank on H. The crank moves the rod l'. The latter works the lever J. This moves the rod L, which acts on M and raises the choppers while moving them laterally. The cutting-edge ofthe choppers when up, by moving toward the right, permit the hemp, Src., to enter the space between the teeth. When (lesccnding and moving` to the left they cut it at an angle. The hemp Falls back into the frame sides X X and slides down on the spring-bottom R lt. The longest and heaviest part falls on R R, which throws thebuttends up out the way ot' the choppers. The butt-ends rest on the top ot' N, and are thrown baclron Y. The driver at any time and distance pushes back the lever U, which draws out the left parts of R R, and the most weighty part ofthe hemp falls on the ground. The spiral spring V draws forward the lever U, and this throws the left ends of R R- back into the long eyes Z Z. The foot-space between the bottom ofthe eyes Z Z and the ground gives ample room for the hemp to tall in a bundle or heap and allow the parts R R to close instantly and catch the hemp next falling. The choppers cut three inches, or the sharp edge is three inches in length, and, including the part turned to the right, are about four anda half inches long from the part marked to the curved point t'ront. The depth ot1 each chopper should be four inches from the lower part of the curve beneath them to the prominent part on top. Each chopper is smooth on all parts, as well as the cylinder part, on which they are castor set. The horses should not be driven out ot'a fast walk.

\/Vhat l claim as my invent-ion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The box on the right marked Q, which is a constant oil-retainer.

2. rlhe combined sides X X and spring-bottom R R, for catching and laying the hemp, Sac.

3. Casting (or securing in any drm manner) choppers on a rock-shaft, N, with the edges chiselshaped, and set so as to strike obliquel \r against the top and right edges ofthe teeth P when the part N moves by a lateral and semirotary motion. ln procuring this combined motion I employ a -male and female vscrewthread, as aiready ['ully described in the preceding part ot' these papers. I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the screw iugctting this motion in N, but willemploy any other method most suitable to proy duce the desired result, and which shall besubstantially the same.

NVILLIAM BAILY COATES. Witnesses:

C. A. DAVIS, ALEXR. JACKSON. 

